5D4N Mount Kerinci

Mount Kerinci (also known as Gunung Kerinci), standing at 3805m, is the highest volcano in Indonesia and the highest peak in Sumatra. It is surrounded by the lush forest of Kerinci Seblat National Park, home to the endangered species of Sumatran Tiger Sumatran Rhinoceros. The area around Kerinci has 15 lakes, of which the highest and most beautiful is Danau Gunung Tujuh. The name “Danau Gunung Tujuh” is translated as “Seven Mountains Lake”- a seeming reference to the seven peaks forming the forested rim. At an impressive height of 1950m, it is the highest lake in Southeast Asia. Experience a tranquil night camping in the mountains where you can gaze endlessly at the stars-filled night sky. There is also an opportunity to experience the local villager’s life by staying in a homestay before and after the climb. You will get to experience their daily routine in the village, where the farmers harvest cabbages and potatoes and the carefree children catch eels from the padi fields.

ITINERARY

Day 01

PADANG – KERSIK TUO

Upon arrival at Minangkabau International Airport, you will be picked up by your guide to your homestay in Kersik Tuo (7 hours drive). Kersik Tuo at 1500m is a conglomerate of villages surrounded with padi fields and tea plantations. The landscape of Kersik Tuo is dominated by the massive cone of Gunung Kerinci. If you take a night flight to Padang, you will reach Kersik Tuo the next day morning.

Overnight: Homestay or overnight travel

Day 02

KERSIK TUO – LAKE GUNUNG TUJUH

Wake up to the crows of rooster. After a nice homestay breakfast, your guide will bring you to Ulu Jernih village – 14km away from Kersik Tuo – where the trailhead of Lake Gunung Tujuh is located. Lake Gunung Tujuh is a volcanic crater lake created after rainwater filled up the exploded cone of the old volcano. Lake Gunung Tujuh is translated as “Seven Mountains Lake”, a seeming reference to the seven peaks comprising the forested rim. At 1950m, it is the highest lake in Southeast Asia. The 6km hike to the lake is uphill all the way till the crater rim, after which a short descend of 20 min will bring you to the water edge. You will break for lunch at the lakeside. After lunch, you will descend back to the trailhead where transport will be waiting to bring you to Telun Berasap Waterfall, a few km away from Kersik Tuo. The waterfall though only 50m high has an extremely high and powerful flow. Be prepared to get yourself fully drenched as you stand at the viewing balcony looking down into the plunge pool of the waterfall. The waterfall is aptly named as Berasap, which means smoke in Barisan Indonesian. Return back to the homestay for dinner and early sleep.

Overnight: Homestay

Day 03

KERSIK TUO – GUNUNG KERINCI

Wake up around 6am for breakfast, after which you will be driven to the trailhead of Gunung Kerinci. Near the trailhead, there are many potatoes, cabbages and chili farms where you can pick up some fresh vegetables for your meals in the mountain. There are 6 checkpoints between the trailhead and the summit; POS 1 (1800m), POS2 (1900m), POS3 (2000m), Shelter 1 (2400m), Shelter 2 (3000m) and Shelter 3 (3400m). The climb to Shelter 2 where you will set up tent for the night will take about 6 hrs. You will break for packed lunch either at POS 2 or POS3. The track is unmarked but well defined and of average gradient till Shelter 2. Gunung Kerinci which is part of the Kerinci Seblat National Park is rich in flora and fauna such as edelweiss, orchids, pitcher plants, hornbills, squirrels, boar and long tailed macaques. Enjoy a sumptuous cooked meal and turn in early to prepare for the next day’s summit climb.

Overnight: Tent with sleeping bag

Day 04

GUNUNG KERINCI – KERSIK TUO

Wake up around 2am to be served a light snack of biscuits and tea. Don your windproof jacket, gloves and headlight for the 3 hrs summit climb in cold darkness. The first half of the trail will be along steep gullies surrounded by thick shrub vegetations on both sides. After climbing for about 1 1/2 hrs, you will emerge out of the tree line into Shelter 3 – the last checkpoint before the summit – to be greeted by the village lights beneath and star lights above. Beyond this point, the terrain is barren with volcanic rocks and sands and fully exposed to the wind. After another 1 ½ hrs climb, you will reach the narrow crater rim – the highest point of Gunung Kerinci – where you can take a precarious peep into the gigantic fuming crater. Watch the first rays of sun hitting Lake Gunung Tujuh and its 7 peaks with the Indian Ocean in the background. After sunrise, you will descend the mountain and return back to your homestay in Kersik Tuo for hot shower and rest.

Overnight: Homestay

Day 05

KERSIK TUO – PADANG – SINGAPORE

After breakfast, you will be transferred back to Pandang for your flight back to Singapore.

Temperature: It gets cold in the mountain above shelter 2 at night and in the early morning. Warm clothing is an absolute must.

Difficulty Level: Climbing Kerinci is tough but anyone with good fitness and hiking experience should be able to cope. Since it is only a 2D 1N climb, you should bring along only essential items (warm clothing, headlight or trekking stick) for the climb. Porters will be responsible for carrying communal equipments, food and water. Therefore you are still expected to carry your own personal daypack of under 5 kilograms. Normal trekking throughout except for some scrambling towards the summit. No rock climbing or technical climbing skills needed.

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